~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: How did we get the Bible? How was it found after all those years?Answer: The Bible, God's book, is different from all other writings in the world. It is not a record or an account of man's effort to find God, but rather an account of God's effort to reveal Himself to man: It is His unfolding revelation of Himself to the human race and the revealed Will of the Creator for guidance and instruction in the Way of Life.
The Bible was given by inspiration of God or special divine influence on the minds of "Holy men of God who spake as they were moved upon (or impelled) by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Paul told Timothy: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:16-17). In other words, it was God-breathed. (God breathed into man what man breathed out!)
The Bible begins with God (Gen. 1:1) and ends with man. It is the climax and crown of all God's work (Rev. 22:21), and its purpose is to bring mankind to God. God began the formation of the Book early in history as a revelation of Himself to man.
THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON
The word "Canon," literally meaning "cane" or "measuring rod," came to be the name of the list of books which were recognized as the genuine, originally inspired, authoritative WORD OF GOD and The "rule" of Faith. The Ten Commandments were written on stone (Deut. 10:4-5). Moses' Laws were written in a book (Deut. 31:24-26). Copies of this book were made (Deut. 17:18). Joshua added to the book (Joshua 24:26). Samuel wrote in a book & laid it before God (I Samuel 10:25). This was well known 400 years later (2 Kings 22:8-2Q). Prophets wrote in a book (Jeremiah 36:32, Zech 1:4); Ezra read this book publicly (Ezra 7:6 Nehemiah 8:5).
In Jesus' day, this book was called "The Scriptures" and was taught regularly and read publicly in synagogues. It was commonly regarded among the people as the "Word of God." Jesus himself repeatedly called it the "Word of God." In the New Testament, there are 300 quotations from these scriptures.
The Bible contains precisely the things that God wants mankind to know, in exactly the form in which He wants us to know them, and to the end of time, it will remain the one and only answer to humanity's quest for God.
The Bible is composed of 66 books written by many authors, over a period of many centuries; yet it is ONE BOOK, in its thought, content, message and theme. That theme is Jesus Christ. The Old Testament pictures and predicts Christ, while the New Testament proclaims and preaches Christ. The Old Testament is a highway of messianic prophecy running often through dark valleys but flowing into the New Testament, which reveals Jesus as the Light of the World.
As an unknown poet wrote:
The New is in the Old concealed;
The Old is in the New revealed;
The New is in the Old contained;
The old is in the New explained.During the dark ages, the manuscripts were protected and copied by monks and other holy men who regarded them as sacred. Early church fathers established the canon of scripture. With the dawn of the reformation period, these scriptures began to be translated into the languages of the common people. The invention of the printing press contributed to the distribution of the Bible, and the great spiritual awakening resulted from it.
The fact that it has endured the test of time and the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations, and is still considered the greatest literary work of all times, continues to attest to its authenticity.
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This page was last updated December 15, 2008.
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